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Savannah man sentenced to 15 years to serve for 2010 assault on girlfriend

A Savannah man on Tuesday was sentenced to 20 years in prison — with 15 to serve — for his conviction last week of assaulting his live-in girlfriend.

Alfred Wayne Perry, who refused to attend his trial, was convicted Feb. 6 on an aggravated assault charge in the Aug. 22, 2010, attack but was acquitted on charges of rape, aggravated sodomy and two counts of false imprisonment.

Perry, 40, attended his sentencing hearing after his attorney, James Byrne, assured the court his client would not be disruptive.

Chatham County Superior Court Chief Judge Michael Karpf noted two prior convictions in violent attacks on women and Perry’s “complete absence of acceptance of responsibility” for what he did in the 2010 case in imposing sentence.

By law, Karpf was required to sentence Perry, a repeat criminal, to the maximum term of 20 years in prison but could suspend or probate any portion of it.

He ordered Perry to serve the rest of his term after release on probation with strict special conditions, including a curfew.

Assistant District Attorney Frank Pennington II asked Karpf to impose the maximum term of 20 years. He, too, noted Perry’s lack of acceptance of responsibility and the fact it was his third conviction of a crime that came moments short of becoming a murder case.

Included in Perry’s record was a 2007 conviction for aggravated assault in Evans County and a 1994 guilty plea to an attempted murder charge in Louisiana.

“This man presents an incredible risk to these women,” the prosecutor said.

But Byrne urged Karpf to consider a split sentence of custody and probation, noting that the jury wrestled with the charges in considering the evidence.

Evidence in the most recent case was that Perry and the victim quarreled at their home, then the woman said she was sexually assaulted and raped.

She remained in the residence until she fled the following morning and called police, the woman told jurors.